sometimes puppies strengthen friendships

Once upon a time there were two best friends, who just so happened to adopt two cute puppies at the same time. And they all lived happily ever after with their constant puppy play dates. 

That fairytale is actually the story of my life. Surprise! 

Hillary and I have always been great friends, best friends since Freshman year at Utah State, but after I got married, and she got married, we just weren't spending as much time together anymore. It happens. 

But then we got these puppies, and it gave us a reason to get together. ALL THE TIME. And our dog's thank us, because now they are BFF's and it's almost too much happiness to handle. 

 8 weeks old 

 6 months old. 

We had a little date at the park last Saturday. Lindsey was in town so she brought her mom's little dog Rex to tag along. 

He was maybe half the size of Red, and one fourth of the size of Winnie, we thought they might smash him. 

He ended up surviving. 

I feel blessed to still have these high school friends of mine.
They make me happy, and fulfill my life in ways a husband just can't.
Who else would be willing to play hours of Karaoke with me? or put up with my cursing while I lose miserably at cards? or eat an entire bag of captain crunch with me at midnight?
or love that scary make-up-less face you see above?

Okay, maybe Zane would do all of those things. But having four people that love me that much?
nothing short of a miracle.

friends in California

About a month ago, my friend Hillary and I hatched a plan to go to California to celebrate her cute husband Michael's birthday.

My sister is currently working in Disneyland, and our good friend Jo Metcalf  is working at Conan. So basically everyone in my life is doing super cool things, and I felt the need to take advantage of that and live vicariously through them.  So we spent one day at Warner Brothers, and two days in Disneyland.
A million thank you's to both of them for making it all possible!

This was my first grown-up-friends-only vacation, and it was just super great. 

It's similar to a family vacation, but no one cries, and everyone gets along the WHOLE TIME. 

I love Michael and Hillary. I have been friends with them both since I was little, and feel so lucky that those friendships have lasted, and transferred into our marriages. We really had a blast. We got to do a lot of fun things, and take a break from everyday life. 

Fresh out of our 10 hour car ride, we went to Disneyland to participate in a little scavenger hunt my sister was working on. The park was closed down for the night, it was so cool to see Disneyland empty! Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. So fun, so magical. 

Friday we visited Jo at Warner Brothers. I had already done this with Bri last year, but Zane, Hill, and Michael had not, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. Pluuus we got to see so many cool things I didn't get to see at my last visit.  

This house used to be the Gilmore Girl home in the glory days. Possibly my favorite show of all time, so this alone was a dream come true. 

It is used now as the back of Spencer's house in Pretty Little Liars. 

Hannah's house on Pretty Little Liars 

Just a set used for shows/movies set in New York City

Remember the one where Pheobe and Rachel go running?

The highlight of our trip to Warner Brothers was easily the Central Perk set from Friends. 

Every prop in there is straight from the Friends.

The famous couch.

Even the writing on the chalk board was left exactly how it was when the show ended, has not been touched in 10 years. Needless to say, we loved it. 

The rest of the trip was spent at the happiest place on earth.

Chip & Dale 

we're romantic 

Aren't Michael and Zane such good sports?

cutest couple

BFFIES

Sometimes life is so good. 

I like you

Recently I was reunited with a very special game. 

A game no one except my Utah State friendsies will play with me, and boy have I been missing it. 

More importantly, I was reunited with some very special people. 

Even though it means Lindsey wins. again. pre-freaking-dictable. Losing is worth it for a couple hours with these friends. 

For a moment, it's like nothing changed. We are all living in the same city, with no responsibilities, playing our favorite game into the wee hours of the morning. 

Except we watch our potty-mouths a bit more under Zane's roof, and it ends around 10 PM. 

And though it smells, and they evacuate the wave pool every 15 minutes because another kid pooped, I will even go to Seven Peaks if it means a couple hours of quality time with these people. 

"If we were to go there, which we're not, but if we did"... long story short, 

matching glasses and proud of it. 

Marriage. Jobs. School. It all takes up a great deal of time, and energy.
Priorities have to be rearranged sometimes.
I love my friends. I love their gorgeous little faces.
I know they are apart of life's plan for happiness, and quite frankly I just need them.
Whether it's weekly or monthly, I'm glad they instantly make me feel at home with insulting jokes laced with love, and the latest gossip.
Thank you, thank you, for getting me through the high school days, and continuing to love me now that I'm a married bore. I like you guys.

So here's to good friends, who make life exactly how it's supposed to be. 

pizza party

marriage. marriage. marriage.
It truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me, or rather, being married to Zane is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Zane does the laundry, and takes out the trash, and always helps me do the dishes and make the bed.
I am one lucky girl.

We have settled into our home quite easily. It already feels like home, although we are still working on the finishing touches.
Even though it isn't quite finished, when my Tis suggested that we host our first get together at the O'Gwins, we were on board!
So Bri, her friend Jordan, Jo and her husband Ryan came over to make pizza and play games at our house.
It was a grand ol' time.
And most importantly Zane got the chance to show off his magic skills, since I am rarely a good audience, and it was a huge hit with the Metcalfs. So huge I think they are going to let us come to california just so they can see more.
The only downside of the whole night is the fact that Zane and I's pizza turned out pretty much disgusting.

It was fun to have people over to our home. It felt like we were married...
cause we are!
I'm excited to have our next little get together, so if you want to party with the O'Gwins just let me know! We'd be happy to have you over :)

These cute best friends

it had so much potential.. 

Friendsies

Brother and Sister, oh sibling love. 

about to attempt to fondue

oh hi, we're married. 

My sister has this awesome Polaroid camera. I want. 

All photos stolen from Jo. 

Dreamin' of a new camera. 

the last hoora, or however you spell it..

Yesterday was my last bridal shower, and I finished it off right celebrating with my best girl friends.
They kind of surprised me with a night up at Hillary's cabin.
It was only half a surprise, because they realized I would have to get work off. They ended up informing me Wednesday night. I'm lucky my boss at Mozy is so understanding about this crazy month for me, and let me take Friday off last minute.

The party was a success!
We decided to combine the shower with our annual Christmas party. It was like high school all over again to have all 7 of us together, and I loved it.
We ate junk food, laughed, watched a slideshow Lysha put together of all our old memories, exchanged gifts, played ridiculous games, chatted, and fell asleep to a movie.
I loved it. I love those girls.
Although having a wedding, and Christmas in the same month has been beyond stressful, it has also been such a huge reminder of how blessed I am.
Blessed to have such a wonderful future husband, blessed to have an incredibly supportive family, and blessed to have beautiful, crazy best friends.

Doin' what we do best

Love this nut!

Aren't they the cutest!

We really are the luckiest 7 :)

Thanks to everyone who helped put this little celebration together.

I love you guys!

come on people

Breaking Dawn was perfection.

Everyone on FB has been posting some controversial status updates.
I guess you either hated it, or loved it.
I obviously LOVED it.

Yes, it was very cheesy. I literally laughed out loud at certain scenes. Me and my friends all did. That didn't change how much we all loved it.
It definitely followed the book perfectly. So to be honest, I have no idea what else people expected.
I mean, the whole book is a cheesy. Goodness, it is a 100 year old VAMPIRE, falling in love with a 16 year old. Disastrous love triangle with a lady-voiced WARE-WOLF included. Far from literary brilliance. But it served it's purpose.
An entertaining guilty pleasure for almost every teenage girl, and some boys, in high school.
So when it came time to turn it into a motion picture, why is everyone expecting award worthy acting, directing, or screen writing?

What we ended with was a cheesy, guilty pleasure, movie masterpiece.

Get over it people. It's TWILIGHT for heavens sake. Don't try to make it into something it's not, just take it for the cheap thrills it's worth.
Take 5 of your best friends with you, and it'll become a perfectly silly night.

So there is my vote America.

Breaking Dawn was totally worth the 1 hour of sleep I had to run on the next morning. 

If you disagree, your comments are unwelcome.

If you agree, feel free to send me an amen!

Whaaaaaat?

Guess who came home last night?!

Miss Hillary Ann!

Finally home from her 4 month service abroad!

And who greeted her at the airport?! none other than her best friends, and family of course. 

We were so excited waiting for hill to come out. Our little hearts were pounding like she was our missionary. We just love each other is all. 

She had no idea we were coming to meet her there, so she was definitely surprised when she turned the corner to see us all standing there. And because she didn't know we would be there with cameras, taking all sorts of pictures, she also didnt have a spec of makeup on. But she was beautiful, as always of course. 

We're so excited to have her home!

And she is so excited to have her car...

haha completely candid. 

After we got home, we all sat around at hills house and talked about Ecuador for a couple hours. We also got some presents. Hill gave us each a cozy blanket especially picked out with the colors we requested. She's the best!

And most important event of the night...

Added stickers to the poster of course!

I'm so happy to have Hill home. I can't wait to have my bestie in Orem with me.

And even though I didn't get home last night till 2 in the morning, and I had to wake up for work at 7, picking her up from the airport was worth it.

Other Than Zane

Last night I went to dinner with my best friends.

Everyone, except for Hillary in Ecuador, was able to come! It was a lot of fun to have everyone together.

Not that I don't LOVE spending time with Zaner, it just never hurts to have a little girl time. 

I am so grateful for my beautiful grilfriends.

More proof that I do spend time with more people than just my fiance, I went on a walk with my cute sis and pooch today. 

We decided we are going to go on a walk every Friday afternoon, starting today. 

Even though poor Dallas is getting old, and was limping the whole time, she still seemed to love it. 

It was some good QT! 

And don't we look gooooooood??

I did wear socks with my Toms. Not sure why that happened.

Buddies

Cool little bush home, and uuh isn't my pooch the cutest!?

Happy Weekend!